Barista Takes Top Honors

The coffee caper began Nov. 5 at a location just west of the Edens Expressway, in Wilmette. Staffers told police that a man walked into the Starbucks and ordered a drink. He gave the clerk a credit card, but before it was swiped said that he had to pick up his dry cleaning and would be back in a few minutes.

The clerk later realized two things: that the credit card didn't work and that the tip jar was missing from the same counter.

Dog-Friendly Cafes and Restaurants

The same clerk said the man got into his car, drove around to the pick-up window and snatched a second tip jar that was sitting in the window.

Authorities have the man's license plate and cross-checked it with state records, which turned up a name, but also a non-working telephone number.

From Coffee Grounds Sprout Mushrooms

A store in Northbrook was hit Nov. 6.

Police spokesman Michael Shep didn't offer details on that theft, but said authorities have "some pretty good information," according to TribLocal.